Dr. Willy Renandya, together with Dr. Mark Baildon and Dr. Imelda Santos Caleon of National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore were the panellists in the third webinar series organized by the Faculty of Arts and Letters on “Student-Centered Pedagogies in Blended Learning Environments” held on April 10, 2021, via Zoom.
Renandya, who is a language teacher educator with extensive teaching in Asia, led the panel with his discussion on “Student-Centered Learning.” It was followed by Baildon’s lecrure where he explained “Inquiry-Based Blended Learning.”
Caleon’s lecture was titled “Flourishing in the New Normal and Beyond: Insights from Positive Psychology.” Dr. Baildon is the Associate Dean for Partnerships and Analytics while Dr. Caleon is the Director of Lifelong Learning, both from the Office of Education Research, Nanyang Technological University.
The three renowned resource speakers provided interactive and inspiring lectures with one goal of highlighting “Student-Centered Learning” or SCL as an approach that “places more importance on what the students do than what the teacher does.”
Renandya gave the almost 200 faculty-audience a comprehensive overview of SCL. The team of Nanyang Technological University experts shared their best practices which are also applicable in Philippine setting considering the “Covid-Era of Education.” Baildon provided insightful discussion on his topic by explaining the role of questions for “self and societal transformation.” Caleon highlighted the importance of positive psychology in the context of teaching and learning.
In an effort to specifically respond to the needs of the academic unit as regards teaching and learning methods that are appropriate to the new normal, the Faculty of Arts and Letters Dean Prof. Marilu R. Madrunio, Ph.D., initiated a faculty development series that features local and international experts. The first in the series was “Education for a V.U.C.A (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) with Prof. Lincoln of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore as speaker, and the second was ‘Teaching Humanities Online” by Dr. Barrett-Fox of Hesston College, USA.
Dean Madrunio delivered the opening remarks, while Assistant Dean Andrew Bernardo, Ph.D., delivered the Closing Remarks on behalf of Rev. Fr. Regent Rodel Aligan, O.P. Asst. Prof. Pia Tenedero was the moderator of the Open Forum and the master of ceremonies.
